Iron County register., 1887-07-07
JOB
st. Louis Correspondence.

Ed. Register-You and your MANY
readers will be pleased to read of the
triumphs OF the gospel, az shown by
the following article:
| HAWAIIAN MISSIONS.
| In no instance il it more apparent
that God opens the nations doors to us
when He bids US go" than in the case
of the Hawaiian Islands. This is most
| wonderfully illustrated In a historical
sketch of this Mission by Prof. s.. g.
Bartlett, D. d. In the year 1919 the
first band of missionaries started for
the Hawaiian Islands, Rev. Samuel
Ruggles being among the number.
The people, whom this little band OF
| missionaries had started out toevanpe-
lize, were among the lowest condition
of men. The nation practiced human
| sacrifice; and there is cord now al the
Mission Rooms, Chicago, with which
one high-priest had strangled twenty.
three human victims. They were
race of perpetual thieves, wholesale
gamblers. and latterIy drunkards: q
race that destroyed their own children.
Some often buried their parents alive:
maniacs were stoned to death. Such
was the forbidding race on whom the
missionaries were to try the power Of
the Cross. Probably none of You will
ave ~ WhuceS tie uOW0IAlI OF lO0I0-
try" SO said tile Rev. Mr.. Kellogg to
Mr.. Ruggles as they break tasted to-
gether the morning before be left home.
And so thought, DO doubt, the whole
community. But Gods thoughts are
not as our thoughts. As the mission-
aries draw near to land q messenger in
sent to reconnoiter. Lo! he brings glad
tidings. The old king is dead. s.Oahu,s
idols are no more." and but one chief
was killed In settling the government.
and be for refusing to destroy his gotis.
The missionaries wrote in their iOurn-
ais, "Sing, 0 heavens for the Lord hath
done it," Into this opening, thus sig
nally furnished by the hand Of God the
entered with wonder and
gratitude. Eight years from their
found them at work, some 40
in number, with 44O native teachers.
$4,000 Sabbath hearers, and $4,000
pupils in their schools.
III 1928 q gracious work began simul-
and without communication
in the islands Of Hawaii, Oahu, and
Maui. During the next two years $50
persons were received to commu Dion at
The several stations. In 1885 the whole
aspect of the field was SO inviting that
he Board (American) sent out strong
reinforcement Of 80 persons.
In 1888 there began and continued for
,ix years one of the most remarkable
swakenings that the world has ever
witnessed. All hearts seemed tender.
Whenever the word was preached con-
1ictiOn and conversion followed.
There were congregations of four, five,
md six thousand persons. The mis-
ionaries preached from seven to twen-
y times a week. During these six
,ears q 900 persons were admitted to
he churches. The next twenty years
added more than e, 900 other members,
making the whole number received up
o 1868 $4,000 souls. The Bible is founn
n almost every hut. Prayer, social,
amily, and individual, is q popular
,abit. The Lords Day is more sacred
v observed than In New York.
Churches of stone or brick dot the val-
eys and crown the hill-tops, and have
,een built by voluntary contributions.
f the natives. Sunday schools abountT.
Fifty years ago." says DIR. A. Pea
'ody, "the half reasoning elephant or
he tractable and bookkeeping dog
night have seemed the peer or mere,
{ the unreasoning and conscienceless
II 1swaiian." The history Of the Sand
vlfich islands will stand forever ss the
indication to the caviler of the worth
+ Christian Missions, and as q demOn-
tration to the Christian Of what they
1ight be expected. to accomplish in
ther lands If prosecuted with vigor
t all propoEtioned to the nature and
xtent of the field, and crowned with
be blessing of God.